Mastering Japanese Emotions and Feelings Vocabulary
Understanding emotions in Japanese not only helps with fluency in conversation but also deepens your appreciation of culture, anime, and literature. Here’s a detailed and structured list of Japanese emotional expressions including their kanji, hiragana/katakana, romaji, and English meanings.
😊 Positive Emotions – 嬉しい気持ち
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
| 嬉しい | うれしい | ureshii | Happy / Glad |
| 楽しい | たのしい | tanoshii | Fun / Enjoyable |
| 面白い | おもしろい | omoshiroi | Interesting / Funny |
| 幸せ | しあわせ | shiawase | Happiness / Blessed |
| 安心 | あんしん | anshin | Relief / Reassured |
| 満足 | まんぞく | manzoku | Satisfied |
| 感謝 | かんしゃ | kansha | Gratefulness |
| 興奮 | こうふん | koufun | Excitement |
| 愛 | あい | ai | Love |
| 愛情 | あいじょう | aijou | Affection |
| 信頼 | しんらい | shinrai | Trust |
| 希望 | きぼう | kibou | Hope |
| 自信 | じしん | jishin | Self-Confidence |
| 友情 | ゆうじょう | yuujou | Friendship |
| 尊敬 | そんけい | sonkei | Respect |
| 期待 | きたい | kitai | Expectation / Hope |
| 感動 | かんどう | kandou | Deeply Moved / Touched |
| 充実 | じゅうじつ | juujitsu | Fulfillment / Contentment |
| 前向き | まえむき | maemuki | Positive / Forward-Looking |
| 穏やか | おだやか | odayaka | Gentle / Calm |
😢 Negative Emotions – 悲しい気持ち
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
| 悲しい | かなしい | kanashii | Sad |
| 寂しい | さびしい | sabishii | Lonely |
| 怒る | おこる | okoru | To Get Angry |
| 怒り | いかり | ikari | Anger |
| 不安 | ふあん | fuan | Anxiety / Uneasy |
| 恐い | こわい | kowai | Scared / Frightening |
| 嫌 | いや | iya | Dislike / Unpleasant |
| 退屈 | たいくつ | taikutsu | Bored |
| 困る | こまる | komaru | Troubled / At a Loss |
| ストレス | – | sutoresu | Stress |
| 焦る | あせる | aseru | To Feel Rushed / Panicky |
| 驚く | おどろく | odoroku | Surprised |
| 疲れる | つかれる | tsukareru | Tired |
| 緊張 | きんちょう | kinchou | Nervous / Tension |
| 混乱 | こんらん | konran | Confusion |
| 無感情 | むかんじょう | mukanjou | Emotionless / Blank |
| 落ち込む | おちこむ | ochikomu | To Feel Down / Depressed |
| イライラ | – | iraira | Frustrated / Irritated |
| 幻滅 | げんめつ | genmetsu | Disillusionment |
| 否定的 | ひていてき | hiteiteki | Negative (Outlook) |
| 不満 | ふまん | fuman | Dissatisfaction |
| 後悔 | こうかい | koukai | Regret |
| 動揺 | どうよう | douyou | Agitation / Unsettled |
| 嫉妬 | しっと | shitto | Jealousy |
| 心配 | しんぱい | shinpai | Worry / Concern |
| 信用 | しんよう | shinyou | Trust / Credibility |
😌 Neutral or Mixed Emotions – 淡々とした気持ち
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
| 恋 | こい | koi | Romantic Love |
| 落ち着く | おちつく | ochitsuku | Calm / Settled |
| 淡々 | たんたん | tantan | Indifferent / Calm |
| 冷静 | れいせい | reisei | Cool-Headed / Calm |
| 安定 | あんてい | antei | Stability |
| 緊迫 | きんぱく | kinpaku | Tense / Pressured |
🧩 Tips for Learning Japanese Emotion Vocabulary
- Use real-life context like anime, drama, or manga to recognize feelings.
- Create flashcards categorized by positive, negative, and neutral emotions.
- Pair these words with facial expressions using emojis or photos.
- Practice daily journaling in Japanese, describing how you feel.
📚 Conclusion
Knowing how to express your emotions is a major part of learning any language—and in Japanese, it opens up your ability to communicate more naturally and empathetically. Whether you’re studying for the JLPT or just want to connect deeper with Japanese culture, these emotional vocabulary words are a must-know!
